You don’t need to sleepwalk through life, saving for months for a holiday just because that’s what everyone else does. Do we really need to be saving for that big trip, bigger TV, newer phone? Or do we actually need more sunsets, more time doing what we love with the people that we love, and more memories? first direct #ad

Let me ask you a question: “Are you earning money for the sake of it?”
It’s quite a provocative question, but it’s a useful question. It helps us reframe where earning money sits in our lives, and what our real priorities and dreams are.
When I was asked by first direct bank to talk about how money and living an adventurous life fit together, that was the question I kept coming back to. @firstdirect #ad

6 days ago

I’m trying to read more broadly these days. And, specifically, I’m trying to read short, beautiful books to help me with a book of my own that I am trying to write.

This morning I posted a question on social media.

"‪I’ve been given a £40 book voucher (coolest present in the world). What shall I buy? Preference is for short and beautifully written novels.‬"

Here, a selection of the answers, are enough book recommendations to keep you (and me) busy for a year!

• The Brilliant and Forever by @Kevin_MacNeil is a great read
• To my shame I’ve only just read “To Kill a Mockingbird”. I wish I’d read it years ago; I’d recommend it to everyone.
• Mend the living by Maylis de Kerangal, welcome prize winner this year, short(ish), beautiful & unique
• The Moon is Down is splendid. I’ve heard very good things about The End We Start From.
• Also, @meganfnhunter’s The End We Start From; Mingarelli – A Meal in Winter; and Steinbeck’s The Moon is Down.
• Life’s Music by Andrei Makinr. Fulfills both criteria
• The Cove. A short novel set off the coast of west Wales. Beautifully written and utterly gripping.
• The troublesome offspring of cardinal guzman
• Would recommed At Hawthorn Time then
• Grief is a Thing with Feathers by @maxjohnporter is well worth reading
• Rain – Four walks in English weather, by @M_Z_Harrison
• MINK RIVER by Brian Doyle. LOITERING WITH INTENT by Muriel Spark.
• Finally read “Amongst Women” by John McGahern and loved it.
• Buy “Do birds still sing in hell?” Excellent story
• A Whole Life by Robert Seethaler
• “Monsieur Linh and His Child” – Philippe Claudel. One of the most beautiful short novels ever.
• “Skin of a Lion” is fab! Or how about Toni Morrison’s “Sula”.
• The Year Of The Hare is right up your street.
• Written by a Finnish man, it’s quirky, funny and beautiful.
• The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce is about a man who walks across England. His journey, both exterior and interior, might be a bit different than your excursions.
• If Woman Rose Rooted
• The Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward abbey
• ‘Gift From The Sea’ by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
• Mushashi by Eiji Yoshikawa which is a novel made up of short books. Truly beautiful read.
• “Silk” – Alessandro Baricco. Beautifully written, multi layered, romantic tale, with some epic transcontinental journeys thrown in. Strong, powerful, yet subtle.
• Elif Shafak The Forty Rules of Love. Turkish writer, book about Rumi and a Sufi dervish.
• Gilead by Marylinne Robinson. Amazing book (and winner of the Pulitzer Prize a few years ago).
• Monsieur Linh and His Child- Philippe Claudel. Very moving, but also uplifting
• The magic strings of frankie presto. If you enjoyed your violin trip you’ll like this book. By mitch Albom
• Things Fall Apart
• I Found My Tribe by Ruth Fitzmaurice
• Janette Turner Hospitals’ -‘Forecast Turbulence’
• Il Postino (The Postman) by Antonio Skarmeta.
• The Course of Love by Alain DeBotton
• The North Water – Ian McgGuire
• Erlend Loe: Doppler
• Run Wild – Boff Whalley

An imaginary journey swimming from city to sea, inspired by Roger Deakin's wonderful wild swimming book, Waterlog.
If you haven't read it, I would urge you to buy a copy: http://amzn.to/2uaQy4E
The text to the film is all quoted from Waterlog:
"A swimming journey would give me access to that part of our world which, like darkness, mist, woods or high mountains, still retains most mystery. It would afford me a different perspective on the rest of landlocked humanity."
This was filmed, on one glorious, hot June day, at six different locations heading south from London down to the sea, which lies just an hour from the city on the train.
If this film inspires you to head for a river, lake or coast this summer, I recommend these two fabulous wild swimming guidebooks for the UK:
- Wild Swim: http://amzn.to/2vztg8V
- Wild Swimming: http://amzn.to/2vzern8
Thank you to http://www.skyriseproductions.co.uk

A swimming journey would give me access to that part of our world which, like darkness, mist, woods or high mountains, still retains most mystery. Ease yourself into the weekend with my new short film about wild swimming: my journey from city to sea: https://youtu.be/7TvEjudVnwU

Ease yourself into the weekend with my new short film about wild swimming: a journey from city to sea. Here's a sneak 15 seconds. Watch it all now, here: https://youtu.be/7TvEjudVnwU
If you enjoyed Waterlog, by Roger Deakin, I hope you will particularly enjoy it.
#wildswim #swimming

A sunrise row out beneath the causeway between Singapore and Malaysia with @grant_axe_rawlinson in the boat he is preparing to row the Tasman, as part of his 12,000km journey between Singapore and New Zealand. (https://axeoneverest.com/rowing-home/)

Jet lag. Bed beckoned. But I've never been to Singapore. Sleep can wait. An evening paddle to escape the skyscrapers. A deserted island, campfire cooking, then back to shore in the dark, bats swirling, jungle crickets chirping, the sound of far off drums, the black, warm, still water gleaming with gold from the city sky's nighttime glow, and flecked with small crescents of white reflected from the moon. Jet lag can wait. 📷@alexis01fletcher

I ❤️ this game: where would you fly?
Singapore for me today. My first visit.
Who should I meet? What should I eat?
Where should I run? What sounds like fun?
#singapore #adventure #travel #airport #departure

“Benjamin David was fed up with the stress of commuting on busy city roads. So he now packs his laptop, suit and shoes into a waterproof bag, straps it to his back and swims 2km to work along the Isar River in Munich, Germany.”